HomeCirculars › RBI/2013-14/350

RRB Claim Settlement for Uttarakhand Disaster Missing Persons

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/350 · issued 30 Oct 2013 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRRBs must settle claims for missing persons in the June 2013 Uttarakhand disaster using only the MHA-issued death certificate and a letter of indemnity, without extra documentation.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

A branch operations officer in Indore, working at a Regional Rural Bank, can now process claims for families affected by the Uttarakhand disaster faster, reducing paperwork and delays. She accepts only the MHA-issued death certificate and letter of indemnity for claims under this circular, ensuring strict adherence to the MHA circular's scope and easing financial distress in disaster-hit areas.

What changed

RBI directed RRBs to settle claims for missing persons in the Uttarakhand disaster using only the death certificate from the designated officer under the MHA circular and a letter of indemnity. This simplifies the earlier process that required more documentation. For cases not covered by the MHA circular, the existing 2008 circular on missing persons claims remains applicable.

What it means for you

RRBs can now process claims faster for families affected by the Uttarakhand disaster, reducing paperwork and delays. This aligns with government efforts to ease financial distress in disaster-hit areas. Banks must ensure strict adherence to the MHA circular's scope to avoid misuse.

Historical instruction — do not use for current compliance. This is what was required at the time; it no longer reflects current RBI requirements. If no replacement rule is linked above, that only means none is recorded on our register yet — it does not prove no later applicable rule exists. Confirm on the official RBI source below.

What banks were required to do at the time

Who it affects

Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Claimants of missing persons in the Uttarakhand disaster, RBI Regional Offices

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).

What documents are needed for settling claims under this circular?

Only two documents: the death certificate issued by the designated officer under the MHA circular and a letter of indemnity.

Does this circular apply to all missing persons cases?

No, it applies only to missing persons covered by the MHA circular related to the Uttarakhand disaster in June 2013. Other cases follow the 2008 circular.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/350 RPCD.CO.RRB.No. 51/03.05.33/2013-14 October 30, 2013 The Chairmen All Regional Rural Banks Dear Sir, Settlement of Claims in respect of Missing Persons in Uttarakhand Disaster In the aftermath of Uttarakhand Natural Disaster during June 14-20, 2013 the Office of the Registrar General of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has devised a procedure for Registration of Death of Missing persons in Natural Calamities affected areas in Uttarakhand vide its circular F.No. 1/2/(Uttarakhand)/2011-VS-CRS dated August 16, 2013 (MHA Circular). A copy of MHA Circular is enclosed for reference. The MHA Circular has devised detailed procedure for registration and issue of ‘Death Certificate’ of a person reportedly missing since his/her visit to the site of disaster in Uttarakhand in June 2013. 2. In view of the above, RRBs  are  advised to settle the claims in respect of missing persons, covered by MHA Circular, without insisting on production of any documentation other than (i) the ‘Death Certificate’ issued by the Designated Officer under MHA Circular and (ii) letter of indemnity. 3. RRBs are further advised that the provisions of Circular RPCD.CO.RRB.BC.No.26/03.05.33/2008-09 dated September 12, 2008 ( copy enclosed ) on ‘Settlement of claims in respect of missing persons’ would be applicable in other cases which are not covered by MHA Circular. 4. Please acknowledge receipt to our concerned Regional Office. Yours faithfully, (Madhavi Sharma) Chief General Manager Encl: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/350 · issued 30 Oct 2013. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=8544&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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